Completing the west end yard ladder - Part 5

 As you can see, we have completed the ladder turnouts and laid the west end of the yard tracks. All the turnouts are number 6's due to the need to blend into the curve that forms the end of the yard. The radii are pretty big so coupling should not be a problem. I have yet to lay the caboose track which will come down in the foreground and then eventually tie back into the ladder.

 This is a view of the last two switches in teh ladder and a shot of the ladder tracks. The brown track at the toop right is the start of the thoroughfare track.

 Here we are going about the curve. One track is still to be laid in the foreground and the piles of track are for that one.

 Continuing around the curve. You can see the two main lines, the arrival and departure tracks and the four yard tracks. You might be able to make out the center line for the last track just under the brown ties and rail and the right side of the picture.

 This is the end of the line. I have to do more subroadbed work beyond here.

 This is the view looking east and you can see the work that has to be done.

This is the view of the east end of the yard and that is the next phase of construction. The homasote is now down so I have to prepare it for painting and then layout the turnout locations. The papers on the track to the right are the turnout diagrams.

Building the West End of the yard - Part 4

 Well, we are entering the yard area from teh Number 8 crossing show in the previous post. Looking down the drill track (yard lead) we first built a number 6 turnout to lead into the caboose and RIP track to the right. The straight track leads to the Arrival and Departure tracks.

Now you can see that the caboose track is loosely laid on the right - not in its final alignment.  It is just sitting near that file. The next turnout built is a number 7 that leads down to the yard ladder on its right. It is a pretty sharp curve at a 63 inch radius. We are transitioning to a lighter rail as we go into the yard. We go from Code 148 to code 125. The Arrival and Departure track lead to the left stays at the same weight of rail as the main - primarily because the supplier of my lighter track has disappeared and I cannot get any more.

We are looking down at the diverging yard lead on the right and the Arrival/Departure lead to the left. That is a number 8 switch that I have built that separates the two A/D tracks. All the turnouts had to be curved to fit them into the space alongside the curving mail line.

 Looking back, you can now see the Arrival and Departure tracks where the two freight cars are sitting. I have been test the turnouts with them. You can also see the curvature of the turnouts going back along the lead. I have now laid the ties for the yard ladder turnouts as well.

 Looking the other way, the tracks have been laid for the A/D tracks around the curve at the middle of the yard. I have also assembled some flex track using old Atlas ties and some 6 foot long pieces of code 125 rail.  It is really nice stuff to work with - too bad it is no longer available right now.

 Looking further around the curve. This area is soon to fill up with track as we complete the ladder tracks.

 Looking down the long straight to the east end of the yard. You can see that I had to stop laying track as I have to prepare the subroadbed for the new section. You can also see the trammel lines that we drew on the yard base to show the center lines for the tracks. Those track bundles piled there are the last of my Code 125 with brown ties.

 This is the old Atlas track with 6 foot length rail. We prepared 10 sections. I have enough rail for another 12 sections and then I have to go back to 3 foot long rail. Those 130 feet of rail will only do three yard tracks so I will have to use the3 foot sections for the other 2 yard tracks. I figure the yard will hold about 225 cars. I also have 6 hidden tracks overhead with a capacity of about 200 cars, and 8 hidden tracks off the main that would hold 2 passenger trains and another 200 cars. So, I think the layout can absorb about 550 cars without paralysis.

This is the yard ladder that we have to work on next. The first pieces of rail are down and now we have to build the four number 6 turnouts that will form the yard proper. I think that J1's will be able to back down the ladder to use the thoroughfare track to get to the engine house as it will be straight. I am a little worried about that curve at the top..

Building the West End of the yard - Part 3

 Well, we have cut the main line and built a Number 10 crossing. We then added a number 8 crossing to get into the Arrival and Departure tracks, the yard lead and then into the yard. This view shows the number 10 crossing and the yard lead on the right. We have a temporary bumper at the end of the lead to avoid having cars plunge to the floor below.

 This is a close up of one of the number 8's. It shows that I am spiking every tie but not going so far as to use tie plates. I do plan to come back later and add rail braces along the point area. I have not yet made the throw bars as I push on building turnouts.

 This is looking back through the number 10's.

 Here is another view looking back with the number 8's in the foreground and the number 10's in the rear. The ties are light colored as I sand them down to be sure they are level after the glue dries. I use  a template to lay out the turnout so I know when to place the frog for the desired number. I use Right of Way products for the frog and point castings.

 This is the number 6 turnout that leads to the caboose track. The line continues through the turnout and then into a number 7 that will provide the lead to the yard ladder. The line continues beyond that into a number 8 that opens up into the Arrival and Departure tracks. You can see that the number 6 has to have its ties trimmed to match the curvature of the rails. I do the trimming after I lay the turnout although I am looking at using a Canter tie jig to pre-trim the ties.

 This is an overview of the throat that has to be built. The paper template for the number 8 entrance to the Arrival and Departure tracks is in place. You can see that all the turnouts are slightly curved - another complication.

These are the templates for the number 6's that lead into the yard tracks. I am checking as I go for interference with the joists as I place the points. The switch motors will mount below and I can't have them in the same place as the joists. It appears I have a problem with the first turnout so I will probably stretch that one slightly to place the points to the side of the joist.

Building Turnouts

 Okay, so now we have to cross over from the east bound main to the west bound main as we want to be able to enter the yard. So, the first step is to cut the track that was already installed and lay out the ties for a Number 10 crossover. Both turnouts will be on slight curves with some super elevation at each end. This view shows the ties down and a track diagram on the far end.

Once the glue has set up, I sanded the tops of the ties. Now, I have measured the location of the frogs from the point locations and spiked them down in place. You can see them up near the pliers on the ties. The stock rail has also been located and laid to set the curve. The diagram of the switch is sitting on the yard lead to the right. I am trying to get the proper line up of the rail that crosses over. This is  a tedious process that is taking some time. I am hoping to get more proficient so that I can move along as I have a number of turnouts to build on this end.

Constructing the West End of the Yard - Part 2

 Well, the homasote has been leveled and the edge trimmed. It looks nice and neat as we look around the beginning of the big curve that the yard tracks will traverse. I have raised the main line up about 1/4 inch about the yard tracks.The Arrival and Departure tracks are 1/8th inch above the yard tracks. You might just be able to make out the seam about 8 inches to the right of the main line.

 Continuing around the curve, we get a look down toward the east end of the yard. The holding tracks will be about 45 feet long. The edge again ooks nice and sharp

  So, with all the trimming done. I can now paint the homasote flat black. This both simulates the cinder under layer below the ballast, it also seals the homasote so that we do not get much movement from moisture absorption. It also looks neat before the dust settles! This is the view from the yard lead.

 This is where the yard ladder will be going. We are also going to have an icing platform for reefers to the right.

 Again, looking around the curve. The elevation differential clearly shows now.

 Another view down towards the east end which has not been plastered nor painted.

Beginning the next phase - the main yard

 We now have to build the yard. The grandchildren have left and we have to push on with construction. I felt I would start on the west end as it is easier and more accessible.  This is a view of the yard lead sub-roadbed on the west end of the yard.  used some Homabed for a change to get an elevation difference between the yard lead and the main to its left.

 Before I go too far,I have to use a router to trim the end of the bench work so that everything lines up for when I add the Masonite fascia later. You can see that the edge has been trimmed to the left and I am now going to trim around the curve. That is an flush edge trimmer bit in the router

 One problem I have with the homasote is that it is not a consistent thickness. This shows the difference in thickness between two pieces. It can be pretty significant. I cannot understand why the manufacturer has such  poor process to end up like this.

 So, what I have to do is to take file folders and cut them into strips that use as shims to level the pieces out. You can see the folders are now stacked and tapered down to go under under the next piece of homasote.

 So, now when we put the homasote down, it appears to be level with the preceding piece. This adds a lot of time to laying the surface.

 The civil engineering associated with the yard entrance is now nearing completion. We have one small piece of homasote to go.

When I finish the routing of the edge it look like this in the aisle with all the dust from the homasote being cut off. The edge of the bench work looks good though.

Finishing Up the Turntable

 Well, after the dust settled and the family had left, I had a chance to go back downstairs and work on finishing up the turntable. All the hard work had been done. First I removed the homasote to be able to recess the tee nuts. After that, I took a piece of 1/4 inch rod and cut it into 2 1/2 inch pieces to replace the long pieces you see in the background.

 This shows a tee nut in place and a short rod with a nut. I also added a fender washer to the undertable assembly.

 We are using the level to be sure we keep the turntable level as we tighten the nuts.

 So, this is the recessed openings for the tee nuts and the nuts on the rods. In all, we had 8 of these assemblies - 2 per corner.

Here we have the finished product. Turntable in and homasote back in place. Now I have to go and finish the yard throats and start building turnouts again.